New US Show Initiative Debuted Successfully

SUN VALLEY, USA – It is called PressCamp and was successfully launched end of June in the US. The name truly covers the concept as it brings together journalists and bike companies for product previews in the run-up to the fall shows.

PressCamp is also targeting Europe as its founder Lance Camiscasca (ex Interbike Show director, photo) stipulated at the inaugural event that took place June 23 – 25 in Sun Valley, Idaho. He developed the PressCamp concept to give bicycle industry companies a mid-summer, product launch boost in advance of the fall trade shows.

Of course, the end of June date of the event is linked to the current introduction timing of the US bike and P&A brands. In Europe this time-line is different. However, that does not hold back the plans Camiscasca holds to introduce his event in Europe next year; for more on that see the interview in the August issue of Bike Europe.

Debut

The first ever PressCamp was visited by twenty editors representing 28 (trade and consumer) magazines including mainstream US publications like Men's Journal, Los Angeles Times, Wired, Outside, and Mountain Sports + Living. Next to that the most important US bike magazines were represented while from Europe editors from Bike Europe, the Dutch dealer magazine Tweewieler and the British trade journal Bike Bizz visited PressCamp.

The journalist met with representatives from 19 bicycle industry brands to talk about and test products during the three-day event. The journalists enjoyed a sneak preview of 2010 products during one-on-one meetings with the manufacturers as well as hands-on demo time. The intimate format allowed for in-depth product discussions.

Exhibitors at PressCamp included Alpine Bike Parks, Blue Competition Cycles, BMC Racing, Cannondale, CLIF Quench, DT Swiss, Hutchinson, Lazer Helmets, Pedro's, Saris Bike Racks, Scott USA, and eight other brands. Camelbak, Mavic, and Timbuk2 provided product as official Gear Partners for the event.